Category : General

post image

A BMC Presidential Application

During the week, I came across this article by Nick Bullock on the future of winter climbing. Normally I’d skip over such rantings but on this occasion, the writing was so utterly shit it began to awaken in me a hatred that’s been brewing for some time. The article in summary was “[why I stopped

Read More →

post image

To Run and Fly

Since finding my love for flight, I’ve explored as many facets of this incredible mode of transport from the perspective of paragliding as possible. Free flight, paramotoring, speed flying, speed riding, and mini-wing mountain descents. I love all forms of this sport but this year, I came back to the reason I started flying in

Read More →

post image
post image

Skiing in Scotland

This piece first appeared on the OS GetOutside site January 2019. Permalink: https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/skiing-in-scotland/ When considering skiing, you most likely think of Chamonix, powder, St Anton, après ski, Whistler, and unaffordable/post-holiday credit card sadness. But what about Glen Coe, Cairngorm, or Scotland’s very own trois vallees: Glenshee? Ptarmigan anyone? Scotland is clearly not the place one

Read More →

post image

Why I Love to Run

If you had asked me a two years ago whether I liked to run, I would have probably remarked that running is the activity you only do when you’re being chased. I did adventure running for two years in the build up to climbing Everest in 2012, but I still retain the ‘being chased’ quip.

Read More →

post image
post image

Getting Outside More

This post forms part 2 of my #GetOutside blog posts for early 2018. If you haven’t read the first one, you can do so using the link here. If you’ve already read part 1 of this article, you’ll know that Ordnance Survey are continuing their GetOutside programme which has the simple overriding aim of increasing

Read More →

post image

Getting Outside

It came as quite a shock to me when Ordnance Survey (OS) mailed the other week to say I was one of their #GetOutside ambassadors for the next couple of years. Whilst I would like to think I’ve walked enough country footpaths (I still hold the record for the fastest (mostly) foot powered return climb

Read More →

post image

Bicycle Helmets: A Controversial Treatise

As the corner approached rapidly, I started to slow my superleggera racing bike to an appropriate speed to kiss the apex whilst maintaining an modicum of control to avoid the wheel swallowing potholes and the various medium sized rocks littering the little Lincolnshire back road. I was tired; I’d spent the past 2 hours expending

Read More →

post image

Controversial Big Mountain Acclimatisation Method

As a trained physiologist specialising in the effects of low oxygen and cold environments, a very recent article published by Bloomberg focusing on a relatively modern technique to dramatically cut down time spent on big mountains piqued my interest: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-01/alpenglow-expeditions-controversial-mountain-climbing-method The hypothesis is simple; pre-acclimatise in an altitude tent/chamber at home, allowing you to partake

Read More →

1 2